Post by Lookout! Boxing on Oct 28, 2017 at 2:04am

Antje Utgaard vs. Miriam Leone
(Words: Front Street / Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE:

No question about the theme in this one, which promises to showcase Antje's one of a kind physicals against Leone's veteran smarts. Yes, Utgaard has a far better record, but, the American hasn't even been fighting for two years. Leone, meanwhile, was a veteran of the pageant circuit long before she joined the BBU back in 2012. Since, she's fought all over Europe and even made an FCBA debut back in July. There's no doubt the Italian has the wiles and the experience. And, there's also no doubt she'll need them, considering Utgaard's power ranks with anyone in the FCBA.

"All the talk," says Antje, "Has been about smart and technically sound she is. Well. Once I catch her with this right hand, it's not going to matter. She can land all the punches she wants. I only need the one."

"She's probably the most physically gifted woman I've ever fought," admits Miriam. "But, I've fought big, physical girls before. And, I know how to handle them."

ROUND ONE:

Recon early. Antje sets up at gunnery range and wants to feel out the Italian with her jab. Miriam willing to play this game. She's giving up some reach, but the Italian has the skill and feet to angle, cut down the range, get to spots where she can get her own left hand on. No question at all which jab is harder. Utgaard's got that heavy Front Street left, and she uses it to snap back the Italian's head on several occasions. Still, Leone's not intimidated, and she's getting her own work done, as both ladies continue the feeling out process and begin putting punches together later in the round. Nothing very heavy lands, but both American and Italian are getting leather on target and scoring points as a result. There's not much in it as we come down the stretch, but it's Antje's heavier blows that play. She claims the first narrow and leads 10-9.

ROUND TWO:

Feeling out over, Miriam gets to work. Leone's playing some serious geometric games now. She's all about angling, getting a flurry off, and then moving to keep Antje from squaring her up. Utgaard's working, but can't get leather on target consistently. She's never in the right place at the right time, because Leone keeps her on the wrong foot and at the wrong end of the angle. It's excellent boxing and smart boxing from the Italian, who shows why she's held that nation's version of the welterweight championship for more than five years. Miriam may not be 22 anymore, but she still moves well, and she still has excellent hand speed. Late in the round, Utgaard begins to get something going, but, just as she does so, the older woman adjusts, using a drop step and circle, and, once again, the American finds herself unable to get to where she needs to to let her hands go. At the bell, it's Leone wide and we're even at 19.

ROUND THREE:

The third isn't a copy of the second exactly, but the results are pretty much the same. Again, it's all about geometry, movement, and head games from the Italian, all of which leave the American growing frustrated with her inability to locate her rival and get square. Again, the younger woman is working hard, but she's not seeing any results, because Miriam's controlling the angles and the distance. It's pretty much a boxing clinic from the first moment to the last, and Utgaard is an unwilling pupil, who, despite expending plenty of effort, just isn't able to get the material and is badly failing the test. Miriam's confidence continues to grow as the round goes on and she assumes a greater and greater degree of control. By the end, she has the American covering up as flurry after flurry of accurate leather are launched at her. At the bell, it's Miriam wide again and now up 29-28.

ROUND FOUR:

OK. Antje has now had enough of this boxing stuff. She's going to bring the physical, and, in doing so, begins walking forward on Miriam behind that heavy left jab. Leone works to manage, with her own jab and her feet. She wants to maintain distance and geometry. The problem is, Utgaard is willing to walk through the jab and any resultant right hands and she's got good enough feet of her own to cut, close, bring the Italian to battle. Miriam's up for that, firing back hard in a series of heavy exchanges in which she holds her own pretty well until. BOOM! And down goes Leone! About half way through the round Utgaard lands an absolute BOMB of a right hand and Miriam ragdolls to her back! Antje quickly to a neutral corner and the referee begins counting, but it's all academic. No movement at all from the Italian as the count passes her by. It's OVER! And your winner by KO4 in one-punch fashion is Antje Utgaard!

AFTER:

Antje to the corner to check on the Italian before the post-fight interview. Gets a glove tap from the groggy Miriam and then compliments her. "She's an excellent boxer. Up here, a lot of girls just bang. But, not her. She's tough to deal with. But, like I said in the pre-fight, with me, it only takes ONE. When I land something like that, it doesn't matter who the opponent is. She's going on the canvas and she's going to stay there."